Cote: Elite in Action

The meeting of forces

Couple Exam - Summary of Rules and Important Details

This special exam consists of a written test where first and second-year students must form pairs to complete a series of five topics. Each topic is worth 100 points, totaling a possible 500 points. If the combined score of a pair does not exceed 500 points, the second-year student will be expelled, while the first-year student will lose all their private points for the next three months, regardless of how many Class Points they have accumulated. Any attempt to manipulate grades will result in automatic expulsion.

Scores and Rewards

Combined score: The grades of both partners will be added together, and rewards will be assigned based on the pair's overall performance.

Individual rewards: The top five pairs will receive 100,000 private points each, while the top 30% of pairs will receive 10,000 private points each.

Academic ability score: Grades will be ranked from E to A, with the highest grades granting the greatest rewards.

Pair Formation

Pairing form: Students must submit a form through the OAA to form a pair. If the other person agrees, the pairing is finalized.

Deadline: Students must choose their partners before the deadline. If they do not, the system will randomly assign a pair.

Secret pairing: Information about the pairs will remain private until the profiles are updated at 8:00 AM the following day.

Penalties

Lack of a partner: If a second-year student does not have a partner, the system will randomly assign one, but their score will be penalized by -5%.

First-year student penalties: If three first-year students do not have partners, their scores will be doubled, but they will also receive a -5% penalty on their grades.

Grade manipulation: Any attempt to manipulate grades, either own or others, will result in immediate expulsion, regardless of the academic year.

....

The students looked over the rules carefully, considering that, in reality, it didn't seem as complicated or difficult as some of the challenges they had faced during their first year. The students in Class A, especially, were not the least bit rattled. Perhaps that was because of the maturity they had gained after overcoming so many tests and complex situations in the past.

— "Actually, it's not that complicated, the main thing here is our academic level," said Mako with a slight confident smile.

— "Well, I think the hardest part will be finding a good partner," Shibata replied, looking thoughtful, as if he was already evaluating potential options.

— "I don't think it'll be that difficult, Shibata," Hamaguichi interjected, his voice calm and confident. "Remember, everyone in our class has at least a B in our academic level, so finding a partner won't be too hard for us."

— "You're right, Hamaguichi," Kanzaki nodded. Normally serious and meticulous, Kanzaki seemed relaxed this time. "This exam isn't so tough. Though we face the greatest consequences if we fail, we're also the ones who will benefit the most, since students from other classes will want to team up with those of us who are academically the best. I wouldn't worry so much about finding a partner."

It was curious to see Kanzaki, who was always so serious and meticulous, so calm and unconcerned about this exam. It seemed that, after all, the challenges of the first year had given them a new perspective on tests.